‘Divyang Kaushal Yojana’ offers grants for sheltered workshops, training and employment support for Divyang persons
PANAJI
In a move to promote skill development and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, the Goa government has launched the “Divyang Kaushal Yojana”, a new scheme that will provide financial assistance for setting up sheltered workshops. These workshops will offer skill-based training and help persons with disabilities lead independent lives through employment.
The scheme has been prepared by the Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. It will provide grants to registered organisations, government bodies, NGOs, trusts and institutions working for the welfare and empowerment of persons with disabilities to set up and run sheltered workshops.
Under the scheme, the government will provide operational grants of up to Rs 2.90 lakh per month for running the workshops. The amount will be reimbursed after submission of supporting documents such as bills, vouchers and receipts.
The government will also provide a one-time grant of Rs 10 lakh once every five years for setting up sheltered workshops, buying furniture and machinery, and covering 50 per cent of the cost of raw materials, subject to government rules and procedures.
According to the scheme guidelines, the applicant organisation must bear 25 per cent of the proposed expenditure, while the remaining 75 per cent will be reimbursed by the department after claims are submitted.
The operational grant will be released on a reimbursement basis in two instalments every year. The second instalment will be released only after submission of the Utilisation Certificate under FORM-12A of the GFR Rules, 2017.
The government said the scheme aims to empower persons with disabilities by helping them develop skills, become more self-reliant and contribute to society according to their abilities.
